Duke Basketball: Brandon Ingram posts career high in Lakers loss

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 29: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers spins from Corey Brewer #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a 121-105 76ers win at Staples Center on January 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 29: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers spins from Corey Brewer #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a 121-105 76ers win at Staples Center on January 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Brandon Ingram showed his potential with the Duke Basketball team and he demonstrated that last night by scoring a career high against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Without LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma in the lineup, Brandon Ingram took center stage in Los Angeles last night as the former Duke Blue Devil poured in a career high 36 points despite the Lakers loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

With trade rumors swarming the Lakers, Ingram looked to be the only player that wasn’t concerned, doing everything in his power to try and propel the Lakers to victory.

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Ingram shot 16-of-20 from the field, all coming from 2-point range as well as making four of five from the foul line with five rebounds and five assists, while playing a team high 39 minutes.

The loss dropped the Lakers to 26-25 on the season, which puts the team in the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, two games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 8 seed.

The Lakers will have a chance to inch closer to the Clippers as the teams will play on Thursday night, which will be a Clippers home game at 10:30 pm ET.

On the season, Brandon Ingram is averaging 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, which puts Ingram on track to have his best season yet in terms of scoring.

Ingram is also posting his best shooting percentage of his career so far at 48.7% from the field.

While things will not be calming down around the Lakers with the constant Anthony Davis trade rumors, but the most important thing for the Lakers is to get LeBron James back from his groin injury and ready for the stretch run of the season.

Brandon Ingram and the Lakers are back on the floor against the Clippers on Thursday night from the Staples Center at 10:30 pm ET.